Capping thru hulls

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Rick D

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Hello all.

I have two thru hulls no longer in use since my generator has been removed... one for water inlet with shut off valve, the other a larger exhaust with a flapper but no shut off valve.

What is the best way to cap them (I do not want to remove and seal up... just cap them)?

--Rick
 
Some Schedule 40 PVC.
Or some 'created' thingy which has two parts. Use a large, stainless, through bolt to hold the two parts together tightly, water tight.
 
There are caps available for just about every fitting size/material if you look hard enough. That's the best way. Whatever you do, do not leave a through hull with nothing but the valve position keeping your boat afloat, too easy to accidentally hit the valve handle (I typically remove the handle and zip tie it next to it), even when capped.

I have at least one of these as well. I cap them until haulaut time when I make the decision to glass them over or not. It's a liability of course, only you can decide the risk/reward of having an unnecessary failure point on your boat.

While it is there, treat it as if it were "active" and make sure it gets a routine check and not forgotten. These things can make you feel anal retentive, right up until the day when you suddenly feel foolish and question whether you did enough.
 
Here's how my 66 thru hull was capped after a re-power...
THW1.jpg
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bluto

Here's how my 66 thru hull was capped after a re-power...

Click to expand...


Well, for the scoop intake one I could remove the lever/valve assembly to get to the threads and cap it... but I was hoping just to cap the barbed end off.

--Rick
 
There are rubber 'bottle stoppers' with a nut you tighten. Worked fine on a 1" thruhull (1 3/8" OD) until I barrier coat/paint the hull and I sealed it up.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Rick D

quote:
Originally posted by Bluto

Here's how my 66 thru hull was capped after a re-power...

Click to expand...


Well, for the scoop intake one I could remove the lever/valve assembly to get to the threads and cap it... but I was hoping just to cap the barbed end off.

--Rick

Click to expand...


If that is the case then I would consider using a short pc. of hose with a barbed and threaded fitting on the other end. Put a cap on the treaded fitting.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Golfman25

quote:
Originally posted by Rick D

quote:
Originally posted by Bluto

Here's how my 66 thru hull was capped after a re-power...

Click to expand...


Well, for the scoop intake one I could remove the lever/valve assembly to get to the threads and cap it... but I was hoping just to cap the barbed end off.

--Rick

Click to expand...


If that is the case then I would consider using a short pc. of hose with a barbed and threaded fitting on the other end. Put a cap on the treaded fitting.

Click to expand...


I did something similar to this for an old raw water head intake - short hose over the barb, put a plug in the other end and put a clamp around the hose and plug.
 
Didn't the exhaust have a water line running to it? You could plug that off the same as the inlet. Is it above the waterline?

Good luck
Niles
 
quote:
Originally posted by nwaring

Didn't the exhaust have a water line running to it? You could plug that off the same as the inlet. Is it above the waterline?

Click to expand...


It did... but the points are two different sizes and pretty far apart. It is above the water line. I'm probably going to go with the rubber stoppers with bolt to expand them.

Thanks to all who contributed.

--Rick
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bluto

Here's how my 66 thru hull was capped after a re-power...
THW1.jpg


Click to expand...


Bluto, is that a galvanized steel pipe cap in the photo? You have an aluminum hull? Not a good idea.
 
I don't see any bonding either, that bilge could use some serious cleaning Bluto.
Bill
 
I shut the valev on mine, put a hose on it, ran the hose well above the waterline the plugged the hose and secured it there.
 
Take care of the dissimilar metals, then deal with the housekeeping issues. Billy, Bluto's boat is an aluminum hull!
 
quote:
Originally posted by L. Keith

Take care of the dissimilar metals, then deal with the housekeeping issues. Billy, Bluto's boat is an aluminum hull!

Click to expand...

Yep I need to put my glasses on!
 
Yes, aluminum hull with galvanized plug, I changed it out to brass. Must of been separated from hull because it was that way since the 80's and no ill effect on the hull or plug when I removed it. Never did get the mermaids to clean that bilge tho. I sold the boat but remembered I still had that old pic to show Rick how it was capped.
 
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